"Son in law spent 8 months in county 7 yrs ago and is still on probation for another year. Ca law says that a felon can vote if he is out of jail and off parole. So how does that translate to probation?"
*** Your post is confusing and I think you are misusing terms.
Probation is a chance to remain free (or serve only a short time) given by a judge to a person convicted of a crime instead of being sent to jail or prison, provided the person can be good.
Parole is the release of a convicted criminal defendant after he/she has completed part of his/her prison sentence, based on the concept that during the period of parole, the released criminal can prove he/she is rehabilitated and can "make good" in society.
Also, there is the problem of the class of his conviction. Your post says that he spent "8 months in county". Generally (but not always), county time would indicate a misdemeanor conviction, while prison time would be for a felony.
If his conviction was a misdemeanor or if it a felony and on probation then the restriction of voting rights would not apply.
If a felony and on parole, he would have to wait the required time.
Ca Elect Code:
"2300. (a) All voters, pursuant to the California Constitution and this code, shall be citizens of the United States. There shall be a Voter Bill of Rights for voters, available to the public, which shall read:
(1) (A) You have the right to cast a ballot if you are a valid registered voter.
(B) A valid registered voter means a United States citizen who is a resident in this state, who is at least 18 years of age and not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, and who is registered to vote at his or her current residence address."
Source:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=elec&codebody=&hits=20
